Landscape

The Coastal Mountain Range is a natural barrier for weather moving in from the west. As a result, Merritt and the Nicola Valley are located in a rain shadow. The area has a semi-arid climate, quite dry but not exactly a desert. The surrounding hills offer a variety of easily accessed recreational activities including fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.

Climate and Weather

With more than 2,050 hours of annual sunshine, Merritt is a natural location for year around outdoor adventure. Summer temperatures can be hot in July and August: Daytime highs average 26.4°C/80°F (sometimes reaching 40°C/104°F), while daytime lows average 10°C/50°F.

Annual rainfall averages 245mm/10in. June is Merritt's rainiest month, with approximately 36mm/1in of rainfall. In winter, snowfall in town is almost non-existent with 67cm/26in falling over the course of an entire winter. The surrounding hills, however, receive much more snow – great for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The coldest months are December and January when temperatures plunge to -7°C/19°F.